I meant to write about this last week, but I got sidetracked by other distractions.

Young mothers don’t kick habit long

Young expectant mothers may quit drinking and smoking during pregnancy, but they are back to old habits roughly two years after giving birth, a new University of Washington study of local families suggests.

If dads typically engaged in binge drinking and smoking cigarettes and marijuana before a partner’s pregnancy, becoming a father didn’t change those habits, the report said. That’s a problem because if Dad is still smoking or drinking, it is even harder for Mom to stay sober and tobacco free.

Is it just me, or did the public health nannies just reveal that they want everyone who has kids to abstain from drinking? If two post pregnancy years isn’t a satisfactory period of abstinence, would five years be satisfactory? Ten? (I’m guessing if pressed on the issue, this batch of nannies scientists would say no, parents need to wait until their kids leave the house, which, with increasing numbers of children who remain in the nest long after fledging age, could theoretically mean 30-plus years of postpartum abstinence for anyone foolish enough to buy into this drivel.)

And god forbid anyone point out the distinction between mom having a drink or two once a week and being falling down drunk. They conveniently fudge it with the phrase “back to old habits,” ignoring the fact that mom’s old habits might have been a glass of wine a week. While it’s certain these researchers would suggest that NO smoking is acceptable, how many drinks a week would be acceptable? Again, is it zero (MADD would love that), in which case they’ve just outed themselves as interventionist, pushy assholes that need not be taken seriously?

Yep, new mothers beware. Controlling your behavior DURING pregnancy isn’t satisfactory. Even your postpartum years aren’t yours to enjoy, because WE know best. Even a single glass of wine, and you’re on a self-destructive path to sinful alcoholism that will drive your child to drink and use drugs in later years. Why, why would you do that to them? For God’s sake, think of the children!

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